It's time to get a Bath

Most nights Mary Margo really dislikes taking a bath. Or maybe I should say she hates the taking of time out of her busy play schedule to take a bath. Once she gets in the bath she loves it and plays for a long time.

Now that Dottie is big enough to sit in her seat, it has made bath time so much more exciting for Mary Margo and faster for Mommy. With Dottie in the tub, Mary Margo can play that big sister role oh so well. She likes to help wash her and rinse her off. Her main job is to keep Dottie warm by pouring water on her belly.

"Yay for bath with sister!" Mary Margo

"Please mother get me out of here I'm a little chilly" Dottie

Love the way Dottie is looking up at Mary Margo.

Giggle, Giggle

We Broke the spell

I am happy to report we broke the spell. What spell you ask? The evil spell of wedding stupidity. Dusty and I have this little "track record" about going to weddings. The last two times we have been invited to one we/I have royally messed up while reading the invitation.

The first time it happened I read the time wrong and didn't bother to double check the day of the wedding. We drove all the way to Clanton, AL only to find that the wedding started an hour earlier that our arrival and all the guest were walking out of the church. That night ended in a nice dinner at Outback in Prattville and lots of quality time in the car together. Most of that time in silence.

The second wedding we attempted I had the churches confused. We were running late anyway. the wedding was at Trinity Presbyterian, not Trinity Methodist. I knew it wasn't the Methodist church but there is a little Presbyterian church next door and I just assumed that it was Trinity Presbyterian. What makes this story so bad is that the Bride's Father told us that is wasn't the church I thought it was. So, needless to say, we ended up having dinner at McAlister's that night.......way over dressed.......... and in silence!

Last night we gave it one more try. Third time is a charm! I got the church and time right! We were early! I did forget the gift but we swung back by the house in between the wedding and reception to pick it up.

Oh, we made plans just in case I messed this one up too. As we passed Amsterdam Cafe, I told Dusty that we were going there for dinner if anything should go wrong. But it didn't and we had a lovely time getting all dressed up and staying out a little later than usual. We will jsut have to plan to eat at Amsterdam another night.

Mary Margo, can you hear me now?

Friday morning we set off for an adventure to the hospital. In 8 short months, Mary Margo lost her ear tubes so we had to have them replaced with more "permanent" ones. Her adenoids were removed while we were there too.

Here is Margie looking pitiful once we got home. She was such a TROOPER! This little girl amazes me. She never cried one tear! (Remember this for later) She constantly compared her hospital visit to mine when I had Dottie. We both had an IV and we both had a bracelet with our name on it.

IT WORKED!

The whole reason we even went to the doctor in the first place was because Mary Margo kept complaining about not being able to hear the TV. She constantly asked us to turn it up or repeat ourselves. Well, new tubes were the answer....for the first time she grabbed her ears and let me know how LOUD Dottie was when she cried! : ) 3 times in one day I got this reaction to Dottie's crying.

I always think that the rest of my day will be filled with LAZINESS, watching princess movies all day, and eating popsicles. I am always wrong. I did MAKE her lay down and watch one movie which gave us a little time to catch a cat nap. But then it was back to Mary Margo's usual of wanting to hold Dottie, run around outside, and just be an energetic 3 year old.

The short nap was nice...while it lasted.

This is her boyfriend...or so she told me. (Really just a balloon she got in recovery at the hospital) She told me it could be my boyfriend too. I told her I already had a boyfriend and she tilted her head in the cutest little way and said "Daddy" That's right, Daddy!

Ear Drops

Back to the "no tears" hospital story from above. This is what makes every tear not shed at the hospital come out x 100! Mary Margo goes into hysterics when we have to put these 5 little drops in her ears. It is beyond me. I hate the hospital.......give me ear drops any day! Not Mary Margo. She becomes a crying, screaming mess at the mention of the word. Oh Lord, please help us.

June and July 4th

Baby fingers and toes....

Just relaxing and working on holding my sweet little head up.

Dottie is growing like a little weed. Look at those chubby little cheeks and the creases in her arms. At her 1 month appointment she was 10lbs. of pure baby chub love.

June 26, 2011

Dottie made her first trip to church! She slept through the whole thing.

Dottie still sleeping after church.

It wore us out and we all took a little nap that afternoon.

July 4th weekend

Nana had a little party at her house for some family and friends to see Dottie. It was so nice to visit with old family friends and show off the newest member of our little family.

Mary Margo showing off her new baby!

The Girls!

Dottie, Peggy Ann, Mom, Mandy, and Mary Margo

We have arrived!

Mary Margo is old enough to ride the jet ski with Papa Joe!

She loved it!

Fun on the 4th

What better place to be....on the lake at sunset on our way to watch the fireworks.

Watching the show!

Looking at the stars with daddy on the way back to the house.

Quote of the night.

"I can't count all the stars. There are too many (pause) But God can."

Busy Little Bee

That is what we have been around here, busy little bees. Dottie has been keeping Mommy busy and Mommy has been trying to keep Mary Margo busy.

Keeping it cool and working on our tan.

Making dinner for the family! BBQ Chicken and fresh squash. Dusty's garden is rocking and rolling with all kinds of fresh goodies. Mary Margo likes to help me when I fry. She likes to throw the squash in the egg and then I do the rest! Although, she would love to get her hands messy and do all the dipping!

Here is what Dottie does.....Sleep, Sleep, and More Sleep.

Even through all her big sister's shenanigans. Such as playing the harmonica, yelling, singing, beating on the drum, oh and how could I forget....hugging and kissing Dottie any free moment she can find!

AUNT MANDY CAME TO VISIT!!!!!

Yay for Aunt Mandy. Mommy caught a brake and Aunt Mandy took over with the task of keeping Mary Margo busy!

Just a silly shot!

Giving Dottie a Bath.

Do we really need three people for this job? Sometimes we do and the company is always welcome.

"Hey Mandy. You wanna hide?"

Not sure who kept who busy while this game was going on. Mary Margo loved playing hide and seek with Mandy. This is how Mary Margo plays. She tells you how and where to hide and then she will come find you.

We did a little swimming at the big pool!

Which means the pool in the backyard is no longer acceptable for swimming.

Here is Dottie ......still sleeping but doing it with the cutest expressions!

During our busy busy days we took a moment to make life a little easier. Mary Margo got a new Car Seat!! YIPPEE!!! We love it! She can get in by herself, almost buckle by herself and definitely unbuckle by herself! I am so excited about this step up and so is she. But I will admit a little sadness....it's just one more step in her growing up. (sniff sniff)

Oh Look! Dottie is awake and playing with her toys or Mary Margo is playing with them while Dottie watches.

If there is any down time in Mary Margo's life, this is what she is doing....still.

Can I hold her?

Aunt Mandy and Dottie at Summer Swing! Yes, she is still sleeping. : )

Can I hold her?

I wanna hold her.

Can I hold her now?

I'm clean can I hold her now?

I wanna give her a kiss

I wanna hug her.....two hugs!

She's moving....can I hold her?

This is all we have heard since Dottie Mae's arrival. Mary Margo is SOOOOOO in LOVE with her all she wants to do, every waking minute of her little life, is hold her. She comes home from school and that is the first thing out of her mouth. After bath, she ask. When Dottie moves, she ask. When Dottie sleeps, she ask.

One of my friends, who is pregnant as well, asked me how Mary Margo was doing with the new baby. She has a 3 year too. She said she was scared that her little girl would become a nightmare once the new baby arrived. My reply.....Mary Margo is a nightmare of pure love! She means no harm. Mary Margo just LOVES her baby sister! I am so happy that she does. I know the new will wear off and eventually they will have their sister moments that are not so loving!

Day 1

Day 2

Sharing with family on day 3

After being so sweet and sharing, she cried herself to sleep on Day 3 because I wouldn't let her hold Dottie! She was exhausted with the overload of family and no nap that day. She fell asleep around 6pm and didn't wake up until the next morning!

Day 4

After school, she has to come in, go straight to her room change clothes take a spit bath in hand sanitizer and then she can HOLD THE BABY

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Just this morning, she can't help it! She wakes up looking for Dottie. Dottie was sleeping in the bassinet and Mary Margo can not keep her hands off of her!

And then There were Two

Last Sunday Morning we welcomed to the world this sweet precious angel and instantly we had two little girls and Mary Margo was officially a big Sister.

Dottie Mae Hall

Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 7:29am

7lbs. 6oz. 20 inches

I've Loved you sister, from the start. The ties that bind are from the heart!

~anonymous

Meeting Dottie and checking her out! She was so excited to meet "her baby"

Daddy and his girls.

While Mommy and Daddy were busy delivering Dottie. Mary Margo spent the night with her best friend, Francie! Here they are on there way to church!

Proud Big Sisters!!